Hi ladies! FH and I had planned on doing a buffet for our wedding. However, recently, I've heard a lot of people talking about how they went to weddings with buffets. They end up waiting a really long time to eat (we're having close to 200 guests), and if they run out of something you have to wait for it, etc. I saw it for myself recently at a shower where they ran out of a certain item and we had to wait (not long) for it to be refilled.
Has anyone done a buffet vs. sit down? How did it go? I guess I'll talk to RH about how they set it up before making a decision.
TIA!!
FromGtoC
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I have been to 2 weddings with buffets and one was horrible and one was good. The one that was better had many little 'stations' so that no one was ever really waiting on one long line. They even had some round tables set up so that people could quickly get what they wanted and continue around the table or move on to the next. It was similar to a cocktail hour.
kshea23
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I've been to both type of weddings, and honestly I prefer a sit down rather than a buffet. Both have their pros and cons, but with that particular buffet wedding there was a 30+ minute wait time on line, and by the time we sat down to eat our food was cold (I believe they had 220 guests).
IrishAli
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
We did buffet, but we only had 115 guests so it was ok. They kep the food replenished and the line had more to do with people chatting and not paying attention to move
macetona1
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Personally, I would do the sit down dinner. We had a sit down dinner and everything went so well. However, I went to my hubby's cousin's wedding, and she had a buffet. It was horrible. I know it's expensive but you don't want your guests to be aggravated because there is no more pasta or you have to wait in line until they get more food. Hope it helps.
Jmrosa1
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I have been to both, and the line and having to carry your food to your table (and maybe more than one plate) can get messy. With that many people it may take a little while.
soon2bmrsammo
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I've been to both, I would prefer a sit down.
Royalgem21
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Posted by Michelle214
Hi ladies! FH and I had planned on doing a buffet for our wedding. However, recently, I've heard a lot of people talking about how they went to weddings with buffets. They end up waiting a really long time to eat (we're having close to 200 guests), and if they run out of something you have to wait for it, etc. I saw it for myself recently at a shower where they ran out of a certain item and we had to wait (not long) for it to be refilled.
Has anyone done a buffet vs. sit down? How did it go? I guess I'll talk to RH about how they set it up before making a decision.
TIA!!
Sit down is better unless it's a cocktail reception with stations of food.
Where is your venue?
TnM1030
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Buffets are fine, as long as you don't have too many guests...then it gets chaotic. My brother in law actually had a buffet dinner and they ran out of food! It was so bad, there was nothing but veggie sides left for a good portion of the guests! It was due to poor planning and parents allowing their kids to go up for 2nd and 3rd helpings while most of the adults still didn't get a plate. What an embarassing mess that was!
evita2781
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
i've been to a couple of buffet weddings (i'm a sucker for buffet in general ) and i did enjoy it b/c i got to try a variety of food but i guess what bothered me about it was that some people took their sweet a$$ time, sometimes they ran out and if you were next in line, you'd either have to wait or just skip it and i just didn't like the whole waiting in line bit. but overall i think it's fine, as long as you don't have too many people.
ItalianBella1122
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Posted by kshea23
I've been to both type of weddings, and honestly I prefer a sit down rather than a buffet. Both have their pros and cons, but with that particular buffet wedding there was a 30+ minute wait time on line, and by the time we sat down to eat our food was cold (I believe they had 220 guests).
This exactly! I say go with the sit down if you can...it also makes the night run more smoothly, I think.
RandEWedding2011
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I have to say I prefer a sit down because then you can plan the night better. Everyone gets served at pretty much the same time and then its done...a buffet can take a lot longer to get everyone fed and done so then they partying can start.
PSP
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I like the idea of a buffet so you and your guests can try whatever you want in the portions you want, I'm not picky about formal stuff like a proper sit down, but with the concerns of long lines and running out of food I would not like that at all.
If everything was replenished constantly then I'd think a buffet would be cool. Tons of great food is key I think. If you're place is willing to agree to do constant replenishing I think it would be nice.
I've never been to a buffet wedding though! Only buffet barbecues etc. My engagement party was a BBQ/pool party all buffet style with tons of food and so many people came up to me and said it was the best party they went to and I should have my wedding as a backyard party since everyone enjoyed! It was only supposed to be an afternoon party but they stayed for lunch and said hope you don't mind but we're staying here for dinner too! It was an all day event. So much left over food though, we went overboard, I couldn't give it away
Moonmist09
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Sit down. I hate buffet weddings, but maybe that is because i have never had a good experience with them in general.
The most recent one I went to was last Friday and there was a really long wait (there were only 100) and we waited for more than 20 minutes on line to get our food. A lot of the food was also not being refilled - but that could be because the bride & groom did not pay for this - i don't know.
Either way, having to carry your plate back to your table all dressed up and in heels is a PIA and i've seen it get messy. We alsways knew we wanted a sit down to save our guests the aggravation of having to carry their own food.
futuremrstaheri
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
We had a buffet. it was set up outside in the tent (so not in the ballroom) and there were 2 lines - one with the stations we picked out and one with the hot chaffing dishes. We only had about 90 people, so the lines were never realyl that long. A lot of people commented on how much they liked it because they could keep going back and tyring different things. Though, I'd say if you are having 150+ people to do a sit down.
sujeire
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I prefer sit down. Yesterday we were at a babyshower with about 50+ ppl and there was a huge line. Waited about 15 minutes to get my food.
SimHawk8
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Sit down is better and the difference in price isn't that big usually. Plus people are dressed up and buffets can get messy with the carrying of plates etc. I think 200 people is a lot for a buffet style meal.
Richiesgirl
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
Don't like buffets...not classy! IMHO sorry! I don't want to feel like I am at a sizzler at someones wedding. I want to be waited on.
KroertGS
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
I prefer sit-down. I was recently at a wedding in my friend's backyard on the water. Everything about it was absolutely gorgeous, but they chose to have a buffet dinner. I waited on line for at least a half an hour. It was awful. There were two lines for food, each very long. I didn't even get to try all of the food because once I got to the end of the line I was on, there was no way I wanted to wait on the other line.
So even though the wedding was probably not cheap, was held in a beautiful setting, all I can remember was how bad the service s*u*cked and that I actually left hungry!!!!!Some of the older guests were not able to stand on line for such a long time, so their spouses/kids had to juggle more than one plate.
Also, since it was buffet-style throughout, we also had to get all of our own drinks at the bar, even water! This also took foreverrrrr. There were no servers, period. Awful.
That said, if you are still considering doing a buffet-style, I think it would be a good idea to have a bunch of smaller stations set up so that people can see what is available and move on to the next station quickly. Also, please make sure to put out caraffes of water at each table, and also make sure that each table will have a server to clear plates and perhaps help to cater to guests who are not self-sufficient!
pjc92980
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Re: Sit down dinner vs. buffet question!
i def think that sit down is the way to go. as all the ladies stated, the wait on the buffet line is long (although venues will tell you there wont be a line...there always is!)...we had a line at the veinese and by then the guests were already stuffed!!! the food gets cold, and they run out of it. The last buffet wedding i went to was terrible...we all left hungry!
